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ferret vasectomy

(Deferentectomy)

Ferret vasectomy is a surgical procedure commonly used in male ferrets as a method of functional neutering. It produces a male ferret who can be used to mate female jills in order to interrupt their season without a resulting pregnancy. The testicles remain in tact so that the ferret still has the hormonal drive to mate with females in season. The procedure involves removing a small portion of the spermatic cord so that the sperm produced in the testicles is unable to travel out to fertlise an egg.

The procedure is best carried out during breeding season when the tiny sperm ducts are bigger and thus more easy to identify during the surgery. It is a simple outpatient procedure meaning your hob will usually be back with you the same day. It is recommended that vasectomised hobs are not used for sterile matings for at least seven weeks after the surgery, as live sperm can remain in the duct for this period of time.

Confirmation of a successful vasectomy can be obtained in a number of ways. Simple microscopy of the removed section of the duct is effective confirmation in most cases. Some people may opt to send the removed section to a laboratory for histological confirmation. Vasectomised hobs are also known as hoblets, and because the procedure doesn’t affect their hormones, it doesn’t affect their behaviour and nor does it make any difference to their characteristic musky odour.

If you are looking to rehome a vasectomised hob please click on 'Ferrets Looking for Homes' above!

Ferrets are part of the Mustelidae family which is commonly known as the weasel family
The are obligatory carnivores and have a lifespan of between 6 and 10 years
Male ferrets are called hobs, females are called jills and baby ferrets are called kits
A group of ferrets is a 'business'
Hobs can weigh anything between 700g - 2000g whereas jills are much smaller weighing on average 600g - 900g
Ferrets can lose up to 40% of their body weight during the spring/summer months, regaining this weight during the winter
Hobs come into season usually around March time and will stay in season until around September. Castration is usually done before they first come into season which is around 8 months old
Jills come into season around the same time but will stay in season until she is either given a hormone jab known as a 'jill jab' or can be 'mated' with a vasectomised male to bring her out of season. Some vets will recommend that a jill should be spayed before she comes into season however, that is a decision made by each individual vet/practice

south cheshire ferret rescue

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE Fantastic CREATURES?

Here are a few ferret facts to get you started!

keeping ferrets as pets

To find out about the main fundamentals when it comes to keeping ferrets as pets, your duty of care, and understanding their needs, we strongly recommend that you have a read through the RSPCA Ferret Information page which is full of key information, including:

Environment
Diet
Behaviour
Company
Health and Welfare
Factfile

We also have our own Ferret Rescue page on Facebook, where you can chat with ferret owners. And feel free to also contact us directly if you have any further questions!